Grants

What is a Grant?

Grants are not benefits or entitlements. A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United States. Federal grants are not federal assistance or loans to individuals.

A federal grant may not be used to acquire property or services for the federal government's direct benefit. The 26 federal agencies offer over 1,000 grant programs annually in various categories.

There are grant opportunities to both individuals and organizations. However, there are few grants available to individuals. Most grants are available to organizations that fall into one of the following categories.

Social Security/Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid or State Social Services, please visit: www.GovBenefits.gov

Student Loans, please visit: www.Studentaid.ed.gov

There are many groups of organizations that are eligible to apply for government grants. Typically, most grantee organizations fall into the categories below.

SMALL BUSINESS
EDUCATION
PUBLIC HOUSING

Government Organizations

• State Governments

• Local Governments

• City or Township Governments

• Special District Governments

• Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized)

• Education Organizations

- Independent School Districts

- Public and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education

- Private Institutions of Higher Education

• Public Housing Organizations

- Public Housing Authorities

• Non-Profit Organizations

- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• For-Profit Organizations (other than small businesses)

Small Businesses:

Small business loans and small business grants may be awarded to companies that meet the size standards that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has established for most industries in the economy. The most common size standards are as follows:

500 employees for most manufacturing and mining industries
100 employees for all wholesale trade industries
$6 million for most retail and service industries
$28.5 million for most general & heavy construction industries
$12 million for all special trade contractors
$0.75 million for most agricultural industries

Note that about one-fourth of industries have a size standard that is different from these levels. They vary from $0.75 million to $28.5 million for size standards based on average annual revenues and from 100 to 1500 employees for size standards based on the number of employees. With few exceptions, all federal agencies, and many state and local governments use the size standards established by SBA.

Individuals:

An individual submits a grant on their behalf, and not on behalf of a company, organization, institution, or government. Individuals sign the grant application and its associated certifications and assurances that are necessary to fulfill the requirements of the application process. So, if you register as an Individual, you will only be able to apply to grant opportunities that are open to individuals. An individual cannot submit a grant application to a grant opportunity that is just open to organizations.

Grant Categories:

Small Business
Public Housing
For-Profit
Non-Profit

Social Security/Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid or State Social Services, please visit: www.GovBenefits.gov

Student Loans, please visit: www.Studentaid.ed.gov

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A GOVERNMENT GRANT PLEASE CONTACT YOUR USA Contracts PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST FOR ASSISTANCE